- 21 JUNE 2024
- CONNEXION, BANGSAR SOUTH, KL
Does AI unleash or stifle human potential? Dive into a dynamic debate dissecting AI’s impact on the future of talent in the digital industry. Explore the transformative potential, confront ethical challenges, and navigate the job landscape. Expect to leave this session either provoked or empowered, armed with insights to navigate the changing impact of AI on the future of local talent.
Nicholas Sagau Tony is a renowned Malaysian specialist and leader in the digital technology arena, and a highly sought-after industry speaker or moderator at national and international level conferences. Often his subject of conferences and networking revolves around areas of digital product, content, marketing and innovation, transformation, esports, corporate innovation and incubator, OTT and digital video content distribution.
His desire to keep steering the society and nation toward digital excellence has been recognised amongst the industry experts and collaborators. In 2020, he was elected as the President of the Malaysia Digital Association (MDA).
Nicholas began his involvement in the media and digital space during its steady rise in the country, Now, he is not only considered a veteran of the digital industry but he is entrusted with helming Rev Media Group as the Chief Operating Officer. Rev Media represents over 40 top digital authority brands with an extensive digital content distribution network that reaches more than 15 million people each month in Malaysia. In 2021, despite the economic situation, Rev Media achieved RM100+ million in revenue, its best year of financial performance.
He has been part of the core digital team members empowered to build and grow the digital business at Malaysia’s largest media conglomerate, Media Prima Berhad. Aside from his daily task of operating Rev Media, he also serves as the Operation and Technology Transformation Officer, at the Group MD Office.
Nicholas and his innovative team have won multiple award recognitions from the industry throughout the years. Notably, clinching the premier, Malaysia’s Digital Publisher of the Year award – two years in a row (from 2019 – 2022), and winning three gold and bronze awards at the prestigious Asia Mob-Ex Awards (which honours and awards mobile product excellence) in Singapore.
My journey to the world of data started with the combination of Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree series of books and Usborne’s fact-based publications that is written to provoke, excite and arouse the curiosity of a young mind traversing through the universe. Market research opened me to the curious world of consumers aka my fellow humans; the choices (or non-choice) they make based on hope, fear, disposition, upbringing, culture, friends, family and the state of the nation & the world. Dattel is another chapter in my journey to explore the boundaries of harnessing data for the benefits of all stakeholders alike.
Kshitij’s love for simplifying complex digital techniques for marketeers have grown stronger over the years while churning out award winning work while keeping tactics driven by media at the core of brand growth. Been a part of shift in media trends from offline to online, a flag bearer of conversion oriented goals and deep dives to introduce brands to its users segmentized into addressable categories and dissecting them further to build relevant channel attributions. Motorist at heart, advertiser by profession, he is Kshitij Pradeep, better known as KP by peers.
Sandeep has invested 27 years in advertising and digital marketing, including 19 in Malaysia. He’s fought in the Cola Wars, co-founded a start-up digital-first agency in India around the year 2000, which he sold to WPP (Ogilvy), run award-winning creative and media agencies in Malaysia (XM Malaysia, Zenith) and currently runs Ampersand Advisory, a new media, creative and data consultancy.
Ampersand Advisory was selected as Campaign’s Top 10 Independent Agencies of the World in June 2023, as well as ranked as one of the Financial Times Statista 500 High Growth Companies in Asia Pacific in March 2023 and March 2024.
At Ampersand Advisory, he has led various Malaysian and international brands to over 150 awards for creativity and media, and in the process Ampersand Advisory has won Media Agency of the Year, overall CREATIVE MARKie, overall MEDIA MARKie, Dragons #1 ranked agency in Malaysia, and Campaign Independent Agency of the Year for five years in a row. He’s also a long-standing columnist in the space of marketing and advertising.
He enjoys the adrenaline of unpredictability created by the pervasive digitization of the economy. In his spare time, he is also a filmmaker who has directed over 20 short films, corporate documentaries and a feature film. His passions include Manchester United (currently a pain point), the Rolling Stones, photography and Netflix.
Syamil Fahim currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Nu Ideaktiv Sdn. Bhd. A joint venture between Kumpulan Karangkraf and Astro Malaysia.
Graduated from University of Misouri-Kansas City in 1996, in the field of Computer Science specializing in Telecommunications, he joined the Karangkraf in August the same year as a management trainee.
Post management training, he was tasked with heading the Graphics Department Unit of Karangkraf. From there, his career in the publishing industry started. In subsequent years, he formed the IT department for the group and launched Karangkraf’s first web portal, www.karangkraf.com, in December 2000.
His experience includes heading the Print Division, Ultimate Print Sdn Bhd for more than 12 years before given the bigger task of heading the newly formed subsidiary, Grup Digital Karangkraf Sdn Bhd in 2010. Believing that Innovation and Technology is key to any organization’s success, he now transforms the Group to be more IT & technology driven.
In May 2018, the magazine publishing division of Karangkraf, Grup Majalah Karangkraf pursued a joint venture initiative with Astro Malaysia to create the largest Malay content creation company, Nu Ideaktiv Sdn. Bhd. Focus of this company is to create great Malay content on multiple platforms that spans from print, digital, social media, broadcast TV to ground events. With over 27 years of experience in the media industry, Syamil now helms the company as the Chief Executive Officer.
Andrew Pinto is the Vice President of Brand and Marketing for Unifi at Telekom Malaysia, overseeing branding, media, and digital channels. Under his leadership, Unifi earned several prestigious awards in 2023, including the Platinum Award, Putra Brand Award, Malaysia Most Meaningful Brand, Kantar and World Branding Awards.
Before Telekom Malaysia, Andrew was Head of Marketing at Mudah.my for over five years, earning multiple industry accolades. He also worked at McCann Worldgroup for 12 years, specializing in brand development and engagement, and at Isobar Malaysia as General Manager.
Mediha Mahmood is a legal and regulatory professional with cumulative 20 years of post-qualified experience in top legal firms and public-listed companies, including as Legal Counsel in the General Counsel’s Office at PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia, Head of the Content and Advisory Unit at Astro’s Regulatory, IP Protection and Industry Affairs department, and Head of Legal at AirAsia Digital. Adept at navigating regulatory landscapes, shaping policies and managing strategic collaborations, she has established a solid reputation as an efficient tactical communicator.
Mediha is currently the CEO of the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF), having joined the organization as the Executive Director in February 2021. Since taking up the leadership role at CMCF, she has spearheaded its complete rebranding and led the revamp of the Content Code, with nationwide involvement of industry players, policy-makers, and members of the public. She recently led efforts with international Online Curated Content (OCC) service providers in publishing ‘The OCC Guidelines’, designed as a supportive tool for all OCC service providers in Malaysia.
Mediha holds an LL.B (Hons) degree in Law from the International Islamic University of Malaysia and initially charted her career path as a legal practitioner; at the firm of Messrs. Shearn Delamore & Co. in the Corporate & Commercial Department. She subsequently continued practicing law at Messrs. Zul Rafique & Partners, in the Litigation and Disputes Resolution Department where she gained additional experience in arbitration and mediation. While being a member of the Malaysian Bar Council, Mediha actively volunteered at the Legal Aid Centre in Kuala Lumpur, providing legal services to the underprivileged and unrepresented detainees in prison.
Mediha was a recipient of the 2023 MIA Impact Circle Stellar CxO Award, and is a seasoned public speaker and certified trainer, adept at tailoring her communication style to diverse global audiences, including industry practitioners and the general public. Additionally, she serves as an independent consultant on industry matters, specializing in Malaysia’s regulatory standards, content laws, and regulations.
